Former BBC News presenter Kate Silverton has described her experience on Strictly Come Dancing as 'excruciating' and 'petrifying', despite enjoying the training. The 55-year-old, who has reported from war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, said the ballroom performances made her feel 'most vulnerable'.
Silverton's Strictly Journey
Silverton, partnered with professional dancer Aljaz Skorjanec, finished in eighth place during the 2018 series. She told The Sun's Fabulous Magazine: 'The thing that's made me feel most vulnerable was taking part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2018.'
She added: 'News was my home – I could rely on my intellect and think on my feet – but Strictly was a whole different ball game, and it was petrifying. I didn't have the confidence in my body or ability.'
Recalling a specific moment before a live show, Silverton said: 'One night before dancing live, I said: "Is it normal for feet to sweat?!" I loved the training, but being out there in the ballroom often felt excruciating.'
Using Strictly to Boost Her Career Change
Silverton, who left the BBC in 2021 after 24 years to train as a child therapist, revealed she joined Strictly to raise her profile for a career change. She told Mark Wogan's Spooning podcast in 2024: 'I thought I could do Strictly and actually use the profile that Strictly gives me to do what I really wanted to do.'
She explained that she was already volunteering with children's charities and working with families, and becoming a parent inspired her to learn more. 'And I was talking and interviewing lots of psychiatrists and neuroscientists and psychotherapists about, when you have a baby, is it meant to be this hard? So I was benefiting from all their advice.'
She added: 'There was this whole shift going on. I really want to help share some of the wisdom that I've been gifted. So there was this whole thing, do Strictly, raise the profile for children's mental health and actually write the book. Because I felt compelled to write a book with all this advice and science that had been shared with me.'
New Career as a Child Therapist
After completing her training, Silverton began working in primary schools to support children with additional and complex needs. She has also authored a book titled 'There's No Such Thing As "Naughty"', which draws on her interviews with experts.
